ISLAMABAD   (   WEB  NEWS   )

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday stressed the importance of utilizing artificial intelligence to further enhance the newly installed Faceless Customs Assessment System at Karachi Port, a move aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in customs operations.
Sharif inaugurated the system, installed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan’s tax collection agency, during a daylong visit to the southern metropolis on Wednesday.
Launched as a pilot project in December 2024, the system seeks to streamline customs clearance by minimizing human interaction, reducing clearance times and improving trade facilitation.
The prime minister met with the chief collector of customs in Karachi Zone, Jameel Nasir, praising him and his team for their efforts in implementing the system.
“The Faceless Customs Assessment System has significantly improved transparency, efficiency and service delivery in customs operations,” Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement released by his office following the meeting.
The statement added that he “emphasized the need to incorporate advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, to make the system world-class and foolproof.”
The initiative marks a step in the government’s broader strategy to digitize its tax collection, a key condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of its $7 billion loan program.
The government plans to expand the system to other ports and border stations across the country in the coming months.
The prime minister announced a reward of Rs15 million ($54,000) for Nasir and his team, acknowledging their dedication to the project.
“This system is a major milestone and will play a crucial role in Pakistan’s economic development,” he continued, adding that it aligned with the government’s vision of fostering a business- and investor-friendly environment.
Pakistan has been actively working to modernize its port facilities to transform the country into a transit trade hub.
The government has also extended an invitation to landlocked Central Asian nations to use its ports for access to global sea lanes, a move expected to enhance regional trade connectivity.